Airline reveals new route from Manchester to Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines has unveiled a new "landmark" route from Manchester Airport to the north African city of Ethiopia.

A service will operate four times weekly from the north of England to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, from 1st December 2018.

58 more countries

The new route will open the opportunity for connecting flights to 58 more countries across the African continent, more than any other carrier.

The B-787 Dreamliner will make its initial journey in December, leaving Manchester at 19:00 and flying via Brussels to arrive in Addis Ababa early the next morning.

Andrew Cowan, chief executive at Manchester Airport, said: "The introduction of this route underlines the critical role Manchester Airport plays in connecting the people and businesses of the north to the world's most important markets.

"While we have served a number of African holiday destinations for many years, this service will provide vital connectivity to one of the continent's most important hub airports.

"That will unlock dozens more destinations across Africa through Ethiopian Airlines' unrivalled network, meaning the North will be better connected to this part of the world than ever before."

Vital opportunities

The new service has been praised by northern businesses for saving time and making vital economic and trading opportunities possible.

Currently around 400,000 people in Manchester Airport's extensive catchment area travel to Addis Ababa and other major cities in Africa via other more time-consuming and more complex means.

Ethiopian Airlines chief executive, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: "We are elated to start services to Manchester, our second destination in the UK next to London Heathrow which we have been serving since 1973.

"As the leading African carrier with the widest network in the continent, passengers from Manchester will enjoy convenient and seamless connectivity options to 58 African destinations operated with cutting-edge fleet like the B-787 and A350 which offer our passengers unparalleled comfort on-board our flights, along with our African flavoured Ethiopian hospitality."

Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945. The multi award-winning airline offers passengers outstanding on-board service in economy and business class, complete with meals, beverages and in-flight entertainment.